Meet the Americans in their 80s who can't get hired and are starting businesses instead
Briefly

Meet the Americans in their 80s who can't get hired and are starting businesses instead
"She can't drive, a requirement for many jobs in her field, and she suspects potential employers considered her too old. "I'm a single person, and if you're not working, you cannot give yourself necessities," Harris said. Hear about Harris' business in her words: So Harris started her own business in August 2024, offering compassion visits, wellness checks, and medication and grocery pickups."
"Thousands of older Americans believe paving their own path - opening a business, working as a freelancer, or taking on independent contracting projects - is their best option for financial success and a sense of purpose. Among the nearly 550,000 Americans working at 80 and older, about 27% are self-employed, in line with the overall percentage of the US population, according to a Business Insider analysis of Census Bureau data."
Ina Harris, 82, started a caregiving business in August 2024 offering compassion visits, wellness checks, medication and grocery pickups. She hires a driver, works 20–30 hours weekly at $20 per hour, and faces roughly $2,000 monthly mortgage and expenses. Harris previously rotated through three-month direct-care roles but began struggling to find jobs because she cannot drive and suspects age discrimination. Thousands of older Americans pursue self-employment, freelancing, or contracting after layoffs, financial instability, or health challenges. About 550,000 Americans work at age 80 and older, with roughly 27% self-employed.
Read at Business Insider
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